BATTAGRAM: A militant leader carrying Rs1 million head money was killed in an ‘encounter’ with police in Battagram district late on Saturday night.

The encounter started after the militants attacked a police post in Thakot area, killing a constable and leaving another injured.

Battagram’s District Police Officer Abdus Saboor Khan told Dawn that the militants took away weapons from the post. He said launched a search operation and tracked down the attackers in the Bar Sar mountainous area. After sensing the presence of police, the militants hurled a hand-grenade and opened fire. The police killed the militant leader, arrested his injured accomplice and seized a grenade, a Kala­shnikov, two pistols, three magazines and live rounds.

The DPO said the dead militant was Hafiz Nisar, a leader of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakis­tan in Shangla and Torghar districts. He identified the killed constable as Kabal Khan.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2016